Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-01-28
a MORMON FAMILY.
The Trial of Bishop Farr for VIC
Iating the Anti-Poiygamy
Law-His Bcvy of wives
and Olive branches.


ped of at Ogden. Utah, for five days to
visit the federal courtroom where the
polygamy cases were being tried. The
first case was that of Bishop Lorin
Farr. who had taken the responsibility
of marrying five wives and raising i've
fam lies. Farr was Misunderstanding
old man. yet there was crafty look
in his eyes which betokened the fact
that he knew better than to defy the
law, and to the gentiles he was known
as "ble ed of the church-one OF the
Mormon elders who were on the right
side of the fence as far as his pocket
book was concerned other words
lin the ring"
Farr was a man of possibly 65 years
old, thin to almost attenuation. long,
sharp nose, retreating forehead, bald
head. with what little hair he had
combed forward over his ears, and his
neck adorned with pair of ''sloggers"
that would have done justice to late
importation from County Kerry.
The counting-room was crowded
half hour before court convened, and
it was with some difficulty that the
prosecuted polygamist could pilot his
five wives TO the seats reserved for the
witnesses. And such wives! He had
probably been punished sufficiently if
he had married and lived with them
all.
No was 60 years old. and had the
appearance of good old New England
grandmother, her round face and
benevolent look seemingly out of place
among the motley crowd.
No. 2, 80 years old, had the appear
ance of an old ancient maiden lady
whose propensities run in the millinery
line and who affected cork-screw
curls and alconglomeratiOn of color in
dress and bonnet that would have made
Kaleidoscope turn green with jealousy.
No. 8. 40 years old, looked like a
washwoman off for a sunday picnic,
her face shining with plentiful appli-
cation of soap and rubbing. Her
avoirdupos was wonderful TO behold,
and her squat appearance was some
thing that once seen would never be
forgotten. She displayed a sef-satis-
fled air, and evidently considered her
self a coquette. as she smirked and
bowed 10 several Mormon acquaint-
ances in the vicinity As though she
were at ball instead OF the tribunal Of
justice.
No. 4, SO years old, was very sober
and sedate in her manner. dressed in
black alpaca, with Scotch plaid
shawl about her shoulders aud bunch
Of cotton sticking in each ear. She
wore a poke bonnet with a green feath-
er and red ribbons, and from the com
placent air with which she spread her
dress and clasped her hands together,
il struck me that she either considered
herself better than the rest or else that
she was the favored wife
No. ). who sat next the wall. was =
giddy young thing of 30. whose face
wore a continual smile and nose thai
would have done credit TO prizehght-
err. She was Danish woman, and hel
blonde hair contrasted strangely with
the white gray and hay color OF hel
colleagues. She was the alleged favor
ite wife, and as such was dressed more
fashionably than the others, though {
fashionable woman in Mormondom il
about twenty years behind the times a
far as the modes 60.
Ii was quite "A study of character t
weigh these women in mental bal
ance. individuality there was none
nothing but stolid Indifference t.
their surroundings that showed thei
sincerity in their belief. Not one o
these women had an education tina
could be compared TO an Syear-olC
schoolgirl. and their testimony on tn
witness-stand showed them 10 be little
if any. above barbarans.
Elder Farr. being placed on the stand
acknowledged to having married thes
women at different times. When aske
how many children he had, he reptile
that he didn't exactly know. bat coul
tell by counting them up. but though
they would average about eighteen t
each family. He was asked if he kneV
that he was violating the conStitutio
of the United States in living and cal
ing for more than one wife. He replied
IL skursely think that be- When tina
air Edmunds lawr come out we talke
about it and tried TO live within it.
give up home for the wimmen folk
and kept one to myself and one wife.
The wives were one by one put VI
on the stand, aud had evidently bee
taught their lesson well. rs they col
roborated every thing the old man ha
, said. except at times when their men
, DRY very conveniently failed them. III
: eldest and first W fe told a very straigh
forward story of the hesrt-ache she III